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4. Does he compare our years to a tale?

We spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (90 P. 9, 10.)

5. When viewing the shortness of life what prayer did Moses offer?

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (90 P. 12.)

6. How does Job speak of the frailty of life?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?-My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle.-O remember that my life is wind. As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (7 Job, 1, 6, 7, 9.)

7. How does he refer to the flight of time?

My days are swifter than a post, they flee away, they see no good. They are passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. (9 Job, 25, 26.)

8. Does Job compare man to a flower and a shadow?

Man that is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. (14 Job, 1.)

9. How does Eliphaz speak of men?

Them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth. (4 Job, 19.)

10. What does Bildad say?

We are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow. (8 Job, 9.)

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11. How does the Psalmist speak of the effects of divine correction on man?

When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. (39 P. 11.)

112. Does he pray to be made sensible of his own frailty?

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily, every man at his best state is altogether vanity. (39 P. 4, 5.)

13. By what comparisons does the Psalmist teach the shortness and uncertainty of life?

For he knoweth our frame: he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. (103 P. 14, 15, 16.)

14. Does the Psalmist compare life to the wind?·

He remembered that they were but flesh: a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. (78 P. 39.)

15. What further comparison does the Psalmist employ?

My days are consumed like smoke. (102 P. 3.)

My days are like a shadow that declineth, and I am withered like grass. (102 P. 11.)

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Lord, what is man that thou takest knowledge of him? or the son of man, that thou takest account of him? Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. (144 P. 3, 4.)

16. How does Isaiah speak of the Israelites?

Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower. (28 Isa. 1.)

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17. What does he say of all flesh?

All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (40 Is. 6, 7, 8.)

18. How does he describe our fading nature? We all do fade as a leaf. (64 Is. 6.)

19. How does St. Peter direct us to pass our fading lives?

Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. (I. Pet. 1.17.)

20. How does Solomon caution us?

Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth, (27 Pr, 1.)

21. Is frail man unworthy of our trust?

Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of?(2 Is. 22.)

22. Does God hold the breath of all creatures in his hands?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (12 Job, 10.)

The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified. (5 Dan. 23.)

23. How did Felix, when he trembled, put off serious thoughts?

Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee. (24 Ac. 25.)

24. For what reason does the Apostle caution us against the abuse of even lawful pursuits?

The time is short. (I. Cor. 7. 29.).

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25. Is the present time of the utmost importance to such frail creatures as we are?

Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation. (II. Cor. 6. 2.)

To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (3 Heb. 7, 8.)

26. What caution does the Apostle give to the Ephesians?

Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (5 Eph. 15, 16.)

27. Will the day of the Lord take careless sinners by surprise?

The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night: for when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them. (I. Thes. 5. 2, 3.)

28. Has God decreed the termination of time?

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea, and upon the earth: lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever; who created heaven, and the things that therein are, aud the earth and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer. (10 Rev. 5, 6.)

XXXVI. DEATH AND THE GRAVE..

Entrance of death Circumstances attending

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tainty of Preparation for-Christian's hopes in death -Christ's dominion over death.

1. How did God pass the sentence of death on, man when he sinned?

Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (3 Gn. 19,) 2. Does sin deserve death?

The wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (6 Ro. 23.)

3. Are the circumstances of death various?

One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.Another dieth in the bitterness of his soul.-They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. (21 Job 23, 25, 26.)

4. Does death often come unexpectedly?

Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. (24 Matt. 42 to 44,)

5. Does the grave await us all?

Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him. (21 Job, 32, 33.)

The worm shall feed sweetly on him. (24 Job, 20.)

6. Is death certain ?

We must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. (II. Sam. 14. 14.)

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